Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for a review.

I really enjoyed this one. I couldn’t put it down. I kept looking forward to reading more. From the start it drew me in and kept me captivated the entire book.
It had so many things I loved: Black movies, Black stars, lgbtqia+, diverse cast with character growth and development, every character had a story + depth, rom com vibes, a mystery, it was well written and descriptive. A great debut novel for Zakiya. I also really liked the way feelings were navigated. I wish the theatre was real I would go! This was a cute YA that I would for sure recommend.

I truly loved this! Rochelle was amazing. I loved how deadset she was to prepare for college. And her two besties were also amazing! I was so astonished by the characters that worked at the Horizon and how hardcore they wanted to help save it. Also, the whole enemies to lovers vibe in this love story was so beautifully played out! I loved every bit of this!! Such a cute book with a great variety of inclusiveness!!

I received this book from NetGalley and HarperCollins to read/review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

I am thankful for having received an ARC copy of the book. It was the cover that first got my attention. I am far from a young adult, more like seasoned, yet I enjoyed this LQBTQIA+ young adult story. I was along for the ride of two girls whose friendship was forged based on that of their mothers'. It was cute story and a relaxing read for me. I think the target audience may have a different opinion. I do wish the events weren't so predictable.
I look to reading more of this authors work.

"If We Were a Movie" by Zakiya N. Jamal is everything I love about a good rom-com—sharp banter, undeniable chemistry, and a setting so rich in history and charm it practically becomes a character itself. Rochelle and Amira’s enemies-to-lovers dynamic is the kind of slow-burn tension that makes you grin like a fool while turning the pages. Jamal perfectly captures that heady mix of ambition, rivalry, and the unexpected moments where walls come down and feelings get real. The backdrop of Horizon Cinemas adds so much heart to the story, grounding their romance in a place that feels like a second home. This book isn’t just a romance; it’s a love letter to Black-owned businesses, cinema, and the messy, beautiful journey of falling for someone you’re supposed to hate. Perfect for fans of Leah Johnson and anyone who adores a well-done, heartfelt queer romance.

I don't read a lot of romance so this was my first one in a while and this was so freaking cute. I'm queer and it felt ... i dont know the word. I never got to be out and proud when I was younger and this made not sad but jealous. But I also loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC of this book. All opinions are true and my own.

While it took me a second to get into the book because I found Rochelle insufferable at the beginning, I found that is probably the exact emotion I was supposed to feel, because her story arc became one of my favorites.

I would classify this as a cozy, summer YA romystery, leaning more towards the romance than the mystery side. I’m always a sucker for a good sapphic romance and the setting of a Black owned and centered movie theatre lent to the story very well and drew me in immediately. I kind of want the whole story but from Amira’s perspective now because that girl is a mastermind in getting the girl.

The side characters left me wanting a bit more of their tales and a little more of them in the book, but each were so well thought out and definitely had their own personalities and stories which made the book feel very flushed out and believable. I think that is why I wanted more of them because they felt real.

Also the queer representation in the book is phenomenal, there is a little of everything and I appreciated the way the author went about introducing queer characters, correction of identity, and self accountability for mistakes or assumptions. Very very well written.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a quick, easy read that will leave you sighing happily and with hearts in your eyes. I got butterflies multiple times through out the book. Especially at “SAT word.” *sigh* The way the author writes the progression of Rochelle and Amira’s relationship was done so well and kept me hooked.

This book is definitely going on my reread shelf and I can’t wait to buy a physical copy when it is published.

Tropes I would consider covered in the book: close proximity, soft enemies to lovers, opposites attract, sapphic love, semi-slow burn, childhood friends reunion,

I enjoyed this book so so much! It is going up there as one of my favorite sapphic YA reads!

I loved Rochelle from the first page and she felt like a very real teenager to me. There were a lot of characters in this book and yet, by the end I felt like I knew every single one. I tend to get overwhelmed by keeping track of characters when reading, but I did not have that problem at all because each character in this book was so individual and fleshed out in a way that added to the story so well. I often find that when there is a lot of pre-book history between love interests (like with Rochelle and Amira) authors sometimes rely on that instead of actually developing the romantic relationship over the course of the book. That was not the case whatsoever here, both Rochelle and Amira, and their relationship, evolved over the course of the story in a way where you truly grew to love them.

While the characters were compelling enough on their own to carry the book, they didn’t have to because the setting and plot were so rich. I enjoyed how this book was a perfect balance of romance, friendship, mystery, and history and I cannot wait for it to come out so that everyone will get a chance to read it.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the historical theatre elements sprinkled in and really appreciated the LQBTQIA+ representation. I wish there had been less predictability, as the foreshadowing was very blatent, telling you exactly what was going to happen from the beginning of the book. Overall though, it was a cute love story and a good read.

Sapphic academic rivals to lovers was done SO WELL in this book! The characters were so compelling and I felt so attached to them as I was reading, they were real and complex, and overall this book was just fantastic.

this LGBT+ YA read grabbed me early on and I couldn't put it down. A finding yourself and saving something you live tale of two girls who have been forced together due to their mom's friendship. I loved how light hearted and fun this story was. If you need an easy-going read with a cute love story, I highly recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for a review!

This was a super cute read. I feel like the flaws that Rochelle had were very age appropriate for a teenager and she managed to grow a ton throughout the book. Every character was loveable to me. As someone who works in a movie theater, it was really awesome to see a sapphic romance set up in a movie theater. I was more invested in Amira and Rochelle's relationship than the sub-plot, but I think that's to be expected in a romance book. I do think that there were a few side characters that slightly suffered from there being too many of them, though I understand the point of having all the extra characters. All in all, I really loved this book and really liked the writing style.

This was a super cute, very romantic YA book. I loved it. I think it fell a little flat after the midway point but it was still good